Hidilyn retains weightlifting title

WORTH HER  WEIGHT IN GOLD  Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz wins gold in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting event during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi on Friday, May 20, 2022.  PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP

By Jean Malanum, Manila Times

(UPDATE) HIDILYN Diaz emerged the winner in a battle of Olympic champions to retain her title in the 55-kilogram weightlifting category Friday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Diaz's victory provided one of the three gold medals that added to the country's medal harvest for the day. The other two came from esports and judo.

It also provided a bright note on a day when the Philippines slid to fifth place in the medal standings.

Diaz, who gave the country's its first Olympic gold medal, in Tokyo last year, lifted 92 kg in the snatch and 114 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 206 kg, 3 kilos more than the tally of 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Sanikun Tanasan of Thailand.

Diaz was trailing Sanikun in the snatch after failing to clear 93 kg. The Thai then lifted 110 kg in her second attempt in the clean and jerk, but Diaz wiped out the Thai's lead by raising 114 kg in her first attempt.

Sanikun tried to match the Filipino's lift but was unable to do so in her third attempt.

Amit pockets women's 9-ball gold in Vietnam

Diaz tried to add the icing to her cake by going for a new SEA Games record of 121 kg. She failed but still managed a smile.

Natasya Beteyob of Indonesia lifted 188 kg to finish third.

Diaz said later winning at the SEA Games was just the beginning of her quest for a third Olympic gold.

"My journey toward Paris [Olympics] starts here, so this SEA Games gold is very important for me," she said.

Wong leads PH wushu team in SEA Games

Diaz admitted having struggled while training for the Hanoi Games because of commitments she had to attend to after her Olympic victory.

At the Vietnam National Convention Center, Team Sibol bagged the second gold medal for the esports team with a victory in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).

Team Sibol defeated Indonesia, 3-1, in the best-of-five final series.

The Philippines earlier downed Singapore, 2-1, while Indonesia beat Malaysia, 2-0, in the semifinals to arrange the championship showdown.

PH bags 2 more golds, slips to 4th place

The Philippine MLBB team is composed of Jonar Villanueva (captain), Russel Aron Usi, Kyle Dominic Soto, Dexter Louise Alaba, Danerie James Del Rosario, Salic Imam and Lee Howard Gonzales.

Team Sibol won its first gold medal last Wednesday in the Legends: Wild Rift (Mobile) women's team event.

At the Hoai Duc Gymnasium, Filipino Japanese judoka Shugen Nakano ruled the men's 66 kg category as he defeated hometown bet Hoang Phuc Truong, 1-0, in their final match to retain the title he won at the 2019 Manila Games.

Obiena wins gold, breaks own SEA Games record

Thailand settled for the bronze medal following a 1-0 win over Cambodia.

t was Singapore who dislodged the Philippines from fourth place in the standings.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, the country had collected 42 golds, 59 silvers and 80 bronzes.

Still on top was host Vietnam with a 162-97-92 medal tally. followed by Thailand (65-73-105), Indonesia (47-66-63) and Singapore (47-44-62).

The Philippines, however, remains on track for snagging the coveted gold in basketball. Undefeated Gilas Pilipinas tries to move closer to retaining the men's title when it battles Malaysia at 11 a.m. at the Than Tri Gymnasium on Saturday.

"We all know that the big test is Indonesia, but we can't look past Malaysia. We've been watching. 'Yung Malaysian [team] sa atin nagpatigas 'yan (toughened up after they played us). They played in the Philippines and we really like the way they play," Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said.

The team's final game will be against Indonesia on Sunday.

In billiards, the Philippines is assured of two more golds since the final matches in women's and men's 10-ball singles will be all-Filipino affairs.

Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit downed their respective rivals in the semis to arrange a showdown for the women's title, while 9-ball singles gold medalist Johann Chua and Carlo Biado duel for the men's crown after ousting their Singaporean opponents in the semis.

Veteran actress Susan Roces passes away, tributes flood social media

By Christina Alpad, Manila Times

THE Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces has passed away, her family confirmed. She was 80 years old.

"With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jesusa Sonora Poe, whom many of you know as Susan Roces. She passed away peacefully on a Friday evening, May 20, 2022, surrounded by love and warmth, with her daughter Grace, her nephews Joseph and Jeffrey and many of her family and close friends. She lived life fully and gracefully," a statement from the office of Roces' daughter, Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, read.

"Remember her in her beauty, warmth and kindness. She is now with the Lord and her beloved Ronnie — FPJ. We will miss her sorely but we celebrate a life well lived. Susan Roces — daughter, mother, grandmother, a true Filipina and a national treasure."

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe in real life, Roces made her acting debut in the 1952 film "Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan."

She was married to the "King of Philippine movies," Fernando Poe Jr. from 1968 until his death in 2004.

Roces was last seen portraying Lola Flora in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano."

Condolences and tributes from personalities in show business and politics flooded Twitter.

"Susan Roces," "Rest in Peace," and "Lola Flora" — the character Roces last portrayed in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" — quickly reached the top trending topic list of the social media app.

"My sincerest condolences to Sen Grace and the family and loved ones of Ma'am Susan Roces... Rest in peace po Ninang Susan... you will be missed..." Senator-elect Francis "Chiz" Escudero shared via his Twitter account, @SayChiz.

"Rest In Peace Ninang Susan Roces," Senator-elect Jose Victor Ejercito also tweeted.

"Nakakalungkot naman. Isang napakabuting tao ang nagpaalam. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang kabaitan mo sa amin mga nakatrabaho mo. RIP Susan Roces," actress Alex Gonzaga tweeted via @Mscathygonzaga.

"Sincerest condolences to the Poe family Rest in peace, Ms. Susan Roces," shared TV host Bianca Gonzales via @iamsuperbianca.

Host, comedian and talent manager Ogie Diaz, who was among the first to share the sad news, simply wrote, "Rest in peace, Tita Susan Roces."

Covid cases on the rise in Metro Manila

 KIDS' VAX. A health personnel administers the Covid-19 vaccine to a young girl during the rollout vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the Calabash Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila on Friday (May 20, 2022). (PNA photo by Rico H. Borja)

COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila went up by 19 percent during the week of May 13 to 19, the independent OCTA Research group reported Friday.

OCTA said there were 71 cases a day during that week, higher than the 59 cases during the previous week.

OCTA senior fellow Dr. Guido David also reported an increase in the average daily attack rate (ADAR), to 0.50 cases per 100,000 population from 0.42.

The reproduction number has also gone up to 0.9 from 0.76, David said.

A reproduction number of less than one indicates that viral transmission among infected individuals is still under control.

FDA grants EUA for Sinovac jab for kids

Despite the rise in cases, the positivity rate remained at 1.2 percent, and the health care utilization rate and the intensive care unit utilization also stayed under low risk.

OCTA's indicators are different from that of the Department of Health (DoH), which relies on CovidActNow figures used by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In a statement, the DoH said that the slight rise in cases did not translate to increased admissions or utilization rates.

It also said Metro Manila is still classified as minimal risk since its two-week growth rate remained at -17 percent.

PH vaccination rate against Covid-19 reaches 70% of target population

The DoH reminded the public that to prevent another Covid surge, they should continue to follow the minimum health protocols and get themselves vaccinated and boosted.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer in charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, no manufacturer has applied for an amended emergency use authorization to use booster shots on children ages 5 to 11 years.

Gutierrez said during a televised briefing the agency has not received any application from Pfizer, whose booster vaccine was approved for use on children in the United States.

An application will be evaluated by its vaccine panel, a process that could take three weeks, he said.

Covid-19 pill gets FDA approval

Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Benito Atienza said he does not expect early approval of the booster vaccine for kids because it has not yet gone through a comprehensive study.

Atienza said most doctors are waiting for the Sinovac vaccine specifically for the age group to be approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council.

Gutierrez also said any decision to administer second booster shots to overseas Filipino workers rests solely with the DoH.

Second booster shots put on hold

He also welcomed the development of a recombinant vaccine by vaccine manufacturer Moderna, which contains the original virus and the Omicron variant.

The DoH also said the FDA is evaluating the EUA application for the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics of China.

Convidecia was given an emergency use listing by the World Health Organization on Thursday, making it the 11th vaccine to get such a listing.

Convidecia is a single-dose vaccine that uses a modified human adenovirus that synthesizes the Spike S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

It has an efficacy rate of 64 percent against symptomatic disease and 92 percent against severe Covid-19.

Also on Friday, former Health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin reminded the public to be cautious because the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 is spreading.

"Alam na nating hindi pa tapos ang pandemya, alam nating mas nakakahawa ang subvariant na ito, kaya habang maaga pa ay pigilan na ang pagkalat nito (We are all aware that the pandemic is far from over. Knowing that this subvariant is contagious, we must act quickly to prevent its transmission)," Garin said.

Close to 55 million Filipinos should have been given booster shots by now, she said. As it is, only 13.7 million people have been given boosters. If the current low rate of immunization continues, Garin said a surge could happen.

The DoH recently confirmed the local transmission of BA.2.12.1, a highly infectious subvariant of Omicron.

WITH MOISES CRUZ

6 benefits of using bamboo for restoring ecosystems

Photo by Eleonora Albasi from Unsplash.

by Jerome Sagcal, Manila Bulletin

More countries have been recognizing the potential of bamboo in restoring damaged ecosystems. Among these countries is the Philippines which as part of the country’s enhanced National Greening Program, included bamboo planting as a tool to rehabilitate degraded watersheds. 

Bamboos have a lot to offer for their environment, so here are six benefits of using them for ecological restoration.

Fast-growing

Bamboos are considered the “Ferraris” of all woody plants. This is because of the speed at which they grow, as developing bamboos can add up to 1.2 meters to their height each day. Because of this, cutting down bamboo is not that damaging to the environment as they are easily replaceable. They can even complete their growth cycle in just three to four years and can even be harvested in a way that if only a third or sixth of the bamboo culms — the woody stem of the bamboo — are harvested per year, then more culms will actually grow in the following years.

Resilience

Bamboos forests have an underground network of fibrous roots called rhizomes which can extend up to 100km per hectare of bamboo. This biomass allows bamboo to survive and regenerate in locations that would otherwise be impossible to survive on. This makes bamboo resistant to the damaging effects of fire, flood, and drought on the environment. 

Improves soil quality

This underground root system also allows bamboo to grow in loose soil and steep slopes, which is often incompatible for other plants. It does this while counteracting soil erosion and improving soil quality. This is why bamboos are considered pioneer species as they can be introduced to an environment with poor soil quality and help improve it. 

A study in India showed how soil damaged by the local brickmaking industry successfully recovered after bamboos were planted in the area. Bamboos also raised the groundwater table level of the area.

Improves water regulation

In Colombia, planting of guadua bamboo (Guadua angustifolia) improved degraded soil by decreasing soil compaction. This enabled the return of ecological functions like water regulation and nutrient recycling. This was proven again in China, where a study comparing bamboo and sweetpotato plantations revealed that bamboo plantations exhibited 25% less water runoff compared to the sweetpotato plantations. 

Reduce coastal erosion

Bamboos are also used to reduce coastal erosion such as in the case in Thailand where bamboo poles were used as a fence to protect coastal mangroves. The bamboo fence received the full force of waves, reducing the strength of the waves by 70% and their height by 87%. After three years of using the bamboo fence alongside the mangrove trees, coastal erosion was averted with coastal sediments even increasing by 56cm.

Economic boon

Part of making people see how bamboos help restore ecosystems is to make them realize how the plant could directly help their lives. The bamboo industry is worth around US $60 billion and benefits over a third of the human population. Because of how fast they grow, people have been using bamboo to create a wide range of products. There are around 10,000 documented uses of bamboo. Among these include modern applications of bamboo in the field of construction and bioenergy.

‘Bubble Gang’ gets revamp with new faces, segments

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Bubble Gang, the longest-running gag show on Philippine television, is out to make the program more relevant by introducing new members, new segments, and new flavors.

During a Zoom conference last Friday, May 13, director Frasco Mortiz said the program will continue to evolve by keeping up with the trends. ”May efforts na talaga kami to do something new. How does Bubble Gang stay relevant? Nag-iisip sila ng ways kung paano sumabay sa current trends.” 

Bang Arespacochaga, consultant for the show, explained the new changes in the program. “We wanted a small group, para maka-focus sa sketches, and the characters. Kung sino yung sikat diyan sa online, ‘Bubble Gang’ is very much open.”

As Bubble Gang makes its relaunch, expect new faces like Dasuri Choi, Tuesday Vargas, and Kim De Leon on the show. Those who bid goodbye to the program were Lovely Abella, Arra San Agustin, Antonio Aquitania, Denise Barbacena, Myka Flores, Liezel Lopez, Diego Llorico, Mikoy Morales, and Ashley Rivera.

Despite the changes, friendship never ends among cast members. “The friendship does not end there. We still talk with one another,” said mainstay Paolo Contis.

Michael V shared that he felt the need to explain the changes to the outgoing cast. “Give them an insight, kung bakit siguro nagkaroon ng ganoong mga dahilan, para hindi sumama ang loob nila, and at the same time para ma-inspire sila.”

The production will not only focus on television, but it will also reach a wider audience through social media platforms. Some new segments for “Bubble Gang” include “Bes Friends”,  and “Marites United”, (Mare, ano ang latest?) 

Asked about his working relationship with Direk Frasco, Michael V said: “Hindi pa kami nagkaka-trabaho ni Direk Frasco sa studio, most probably in the coming days.”

“It’s a group effort. It’s really the whole team, the collaboration of everyone,” said Bang on the cast effort to make the gag show alive and funny. “Hindi kami p’wede maging stagnant kung ano kami 10 years or 15 years ago, kasi maluluma kami.” 

“I think yung secret dun sa longevity nung show is the ability of the show to change with the times. Kumbaga, nage-evolve siya along with you,” said Director Frasco. 

Michael V added: “To sum it up, the objective of the show is to be funny, to be relevant, to be revolutionary, and evolutionary. As long as nami-meet ng show ‘yung mga requirements na ‘to. I believe the show will be here for a long time.” (Jazzle Anne Calanao and Diannevie Feliciano/practicum)

OUR FAITH

 

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20-21.

Yes, our faith can move mountains. What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Faith will move mountains’? From the Bible. It is recorded in the 1582 Rheims Bible, in Matthew XXI 21, as: “If you shal haue faith, and stagger not, … and if you shal say to this mountaine, Take vp and throw thy self into the sea, it shal be done.

To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith, we’re really nothing.

Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents – or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found everywhere.

We should believe in our friends, even though it seems to become very difficult many times.

Please remember, my dear readers: without faith will we reach the rock bottom. Don’t say, it’s a likely story.

The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama “Maria Stuart”: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!” Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody’s thing, or “not everyone has faith”.

“If I have faith, that can move mountains” (First Corinthians 13,2).

Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the following lyric: “Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith.”

So, let’s even continue believing in our government or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is really a pledged word.

Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy.
We attract good things because we believe and expect good things to come. Similarly, when we believe and expect bad things to come, we also attract that into our lives. Faith is the pathway for abundance, so be sure to hold it at the forefront of your mind. Don’t be afraid to expect the very best for yourself.

Allow me to close this column with a Chinese proverb: “People without faith in themselves cannot or will never survive!” – Worth to think about it!

True love described

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

CHRIST said it very clearly. He who is not only the fullness of the revelation of God but is also the embodiment of what true love is said: “Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15,12-13)

Somehow those words tell us that true love can only have a universal scope. We can note that he simply said to “love one another as I love you” without further qualification.

And immediately after those words, he described what it is to be his friend that gives us an idea about what the essence of friendship is. “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (Jn 15,14) Thus, friendship is all about doing Christ’s commands. It’s not so much about having common likes and dislikes with others, or some other criteria or standards.

If our love is true, that is, it is a love that is a vital part of Christ’s love for all of us, then it is open to anything. That love would remain steadfast and would continue to grow and to be creative irrespective of how it is received by the object of such love.

It can be received well or not, it can be reciprocated generously or be betrayed. Regardless of the fate it falls into, that love will remain faithful. Thus, St. Paul once said: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Tim 2,13)

This basic truth about true love should be known and appreciated by everyone of us, and especially those who are into some commitments, like married people and those with special vocations. They have to pattern their love and sense of commitment after Christ’s love that has as its objects the Father and all of us.

Christ was and is open to anything because of pure love. This is the kind of love that we should try our best to cultivate in ourselves too. It’s purely gratuitous, and even more, it will do everything to recover the beloved even if the latter not only does not correspond to that love but also betrays and goes against that love. It’s a love that is willing to bear the sins, mistakes and offenses of the others, and even willing to offer one’s life for them.

We can only do this if we are true friends of Christ, that is, persons who obey Christ’s commands. It’s this friendship with Christ that would enable us to be friendly with everybody else regardless of how the others are.

As one saint said, we should be willing to go to the very gates of hell, without entering it, of course, if only to save a soul. This obviously would require us to be tough and clear about the real goal to reach, and yet flexible and adaptable to any person and to any condition.

In this regard, we have to learn how to fraternize with sinners. We have to replicate Christ’s attitude towards sinners, who actually are all of us—of course, in varying degrees. We have to give special attention to the lost sheep and to the lost coin. We have to open all possible avenues to be in touch with all sinners.

This is what true love is all about. It may not be all sweet according to our human standards. But it is what is truly proper to us!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

PAGASA declares onset of rainy season in PH

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the start of the rainy season on Wednesday, May 18, citing the widespread rains during the last five days.

“The presence of frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country,” PAGASA said in a statement.

PAGASA defines areas under Type I climate classification as those with two pronounced seasons—dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. These include Metro Manila and the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

“Moreover, southwesterly surface wind flow was also observed during the past few days. This satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” it said.

PAGASA noted that intermittent rains, associated with the southwest monsoon, locally called “habagat,” will affect Metro Manila and the western sections of the country.

However, it pointed out that breaks in rainfall events, also known as monsoon breaks, which can last for several days or weeks, may still occur.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the ongoing La Niña may still affect some parts of the country, which may increase the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in the coming months.

The State weather bureau added it will continue to monitor the day-to-day weather and long-term climate situation and provide updates when significant changes occur.

Let’s always feel God’s constant love for us

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“AS the Father loves me, so I also love you.” (Jn 15,9) Words of Christ that are worth engraving indelibly in our mind and heart. They clearly show us how much God loves us. Imagine, the love that God the Father lavished on God the Son is the same love that is also lavished on us!

This truth of our faith should drive us crazy as well as move us to learn to love God in return and to love everybody else with the same love God has for all of us. And Christ gives us the secret of how we can have such love that, according to him, will give us our complete joy. (cfr. Jn 15,11) 

And that is to keep God’s commandments. “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,” he said, “just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (Jn 15,10)

Given the way love is understood by many of us, we need to learn to distinguish between what is genuine love and fake love, between what is objectively good and evil and what may just be our own ideas of them that do not conform to the truth.

Nowadays, the ability to distinguish these essential elements in our life is most needed since we are in very complicated times and many people, especially the young, the so-called millennials, are unfortunately thrown into deep confusion and ignorance. Some people have even described such sad phenomenon as invincibly irremediable.

But I believe there’s always hope and that we can still manage to get to the truth. And so, the first thing that we can say with regard to this issue is that to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between good and evil, between genuine love and fake love, we need to have a close, intimate relationship with God.

After all, he is the creator of all things, the first and ultimate lawgiver, the very foundation of reality. Without him, we go out on a limb, and expose ourselves to many dangers. Not that with him, we are free of dangers. In fact, with him, we will always be hounded by temptations from inside us and outside us. But at least with him, we are sure of the path we are taking, and the choice we will be making.

Our love, to be true, can only flow from God who loves himself. And that love is shown to us and is made available to us by Christ who commanded us precisely to love one another as he himself has loved us. (cfr Jn 13,34)

This love that comes from God through Christ in the Holy Spirit will always be in the truth, will always be consistent irrespective of our conditions and circumstances, will always know how to adapt itself to different situations without getting lost.

And given our human condition that is prone to confusion and error, we should realize that we need to always renew and purify our love. That’s simply because of the tension between our nature and our supernatural goal, not to mention our present wounded human condition that is prone to temptation and sin and to all kinds of weaknesses. We unavoidably contend with these conditions in our earthly life. 

We can always start with good intentions and the best of our efforts in anything that we do. But if we do not constantly renew and purify our love for God and neighbour that should inspire all our actions, we simply cannot go the distance.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Filipinos continue to rule dancesport

By Jean Malanum

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE Mark Jayson Corales Gayon and Mary Joy Guiao Renigen of the Philippines compete in the slow foxtrot category of the dancesport event at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, on Monday, May 16, 2022. PHOTO BY NHAC NGUYEN/AFP

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE Mark Jayson Corales Gayon and Mary Joy Guiao Renigen of the Philippines compete in the slow foxtrot category of the dancesport event at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, on Monday, May 16, 2022. PHOTO BY NHAC NGUYEN/AFP

THE country's successful campaign in dancesport at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Hanoi, Vietnam, has proven once again that the Filipinos are the best in the region.

After winning five golds, five silvers and two bronzes, the Philippines retained the overall title it won during the 2019 edition held at Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Philippine Dancesport Federation president Becky Garcia commended the Standard and Latin teams for making their country proud.

"They did their best because they are focused and passionate in their dancing," Garcia told The Manila Times on Wednesday.

Ana Leonila Nualla and Sean Mischa Aranar produced three gold medals in Standard Viennese Waltz, Standard Tango and Standard All Five Dances, the same three events they ruled in 2019.

In the Viennese Waltz event, they defeated Thailand's Anucha Wijitkoon and Pasraporn Phandech while Vietnam's Minh Vu Hoang Anh and Xuan Nguyen Truong won the bronze.

They triumphed in the Tango event, beating Thailand's Thanawan Yananun and Issaparung Duangkaew (silver) and Vietnam's Duc Hoa Nguyen and Yeu Nguyen Thi Hai, while in the All Five Dances, they conquered Anucha and Pasraporn (silver) and Duc Hoa and Yeu Nguyen (bronze).

"Our fighting spirits are high during the competition. We are determined to give them three gold-level performances," the 30-year-old Nualla, a licensed chemist who is now a full-time athlete, said.

"We never stopped training even during the pandemic. We're always thinking about the SEA Games. In our own way, we made sure that we will be ready for the competition," Nualla, who has been dancing with Sean for nine years, added.

Mary Joy Renigen and Mark Jayson Gayon also retained their title in the Standard Slow Foxtrot event, beating Thailand's Anucha Wijitkoon and Pasraporn Phandech (silver) and Malaysia's Leonard Jie Ren Hoh and Ning Huan Mu (bronze).

They claimed the silver medal in the Standard Quickstep event won by Thailand's Thanawan Yananun and Issarapong Duangkaew with Vietnam's Minh Vu Hoang Anh and Xuan Nguyen Truong placing third.

In the Standard Waltz, Renigen and Gayon lost the gold medal to Thanawan and Issarapong while Vietnam's Duc Hoa Nguyen and Yen Nguyen Thi Hai secured the bronze medal.

"I can say that our performance as partners has gone to another level because we trust each other more. I know in my heart that my partner is more confident this time, he's the one telling me to relax because we are competing outside of the country," the 27-year-old Renigen from Taguig City said.

She graduated from University of Makati with a physical wellness degree majoring in dance and is currently dancesport head coach of Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.

Renigen and Gayon stopped dancing for two years during the pandemic and resumed only in October last year.

"Before the SEA Games, we trained in London, United Kingdom from April 14-26. We fund-raised a budget for it and by God's grace and with the help of many generous people, we were able to pursue it. We also trained in Cebu from April 30 to May 4, with Italian coach Paolo Bosco, a seven-time world champion in Standard. This training is through the generosity of Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo," Renigen shared.

Renigen and Gayon have been dancing partners since 2014. They joined the national team in 2017.

"These are great help for us in winning these medals and of course, all the people behind us who never stopped believing and trusting us, despite all the struggles," she added.

Coach German Enriquez is all praises for the Standard dance team, saying "the team performed very well. Better than in practice."

He also observed that the dancers from other countries "have also improved in terms of power."

The country's only gold medal in the Latin category was delivered by Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo in the Cha-cha event.

Vietnam's Kien Nguyen Trung and Anh Pham Hong took the silver medal while Thailand's Shinawat Lerson and Preeyanoot Patoomsriwiroje won the bronze medal.

Marquez and Sabalo placed second to Vietnam's Doan Minh Truong Nguyen and Huong Dang Thu in the Jive event. Thailand's Jettapon Inthakun and Apichaya Kuptawanith were third.

They also finished second to Doan and Huong in the All Five Dances event, while Thailand's Lerson and Patoomsriwiroje walked away with the bronze medal.

Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda won the silver medal in the Samba. Kien and Anh Pham Hong got the gold medal while Thailand's Jettapon Inthakun and Apichaya Kuptawanith took the bronze medal.

Kien and Anh beat Jettapon and Apichaya for the gold medal in Rumba while Aunzo and Caneda picked up the bronze medal.

Aunzo and Caneda also bagged the bronze medal in the Paso Doble, where Vietnam's Doan Minh Truong Nguyen and Huong Dang Thu pocketed the gold medal while Lerson and Patoomsriwiroje won the silver medal.